Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-09

progress is the upward, not the level, L
shall believe there is something worth hav-
ing beneath this omnipresent lacquer. The
first acts of the French Revolutionists, as
the destruction of the Bastile were good
but becoming intoxicated. they must MUIR
der their king and defy God. There are
other revolutions than political other muir
ders than of kings, other wild intoxications
and blasphemies, and as in Paris, under
the name of liberty, so in Japan, under the
name of progress, the brainless mob fol-
lows brainless leader.
TEMPLE WITH MANY GODS.
But here we are in the large garden
about Asaksua-many shrines with flowers
before them. The god of travellers attracts
my special attention, and | feel like hang
ing up pair of shoes at the gate before the
Mo, for all who would be good walkers
had best make such an offering. Services
are being held in small temple in the
rear of the large one. | see two candles
burning on the altar, priests and people
kneeling before it, all praying aloud in low
tones and now and then bending, while re-
peatedlv musical bell is rung it is in
deed a beautiful sight-the two candles
casting a faint glow in the somber interior
upon the gold carvings. while the sunlight
outside throws in a beam now and then
which plays about the tracery of the outer
arches. As God is everywhere, Christian
can take off his hat before such picture
with a feeling akin to reverence. A
huge block of stone with inscriptions
upon it is placed upon the back of
a stone turtle, Buddha seated in beatific
repose upon the lotus, stone lanterns
as memorials, and little shrines like kiosks
abound. A sacred white horse stands in
II ctolf and ,nanp1a ht1xr email hits
to feed him next to him is a wooden rep
resentation of brown horse. The side
shows about Asakusa are innumerable,
and photographers invite you to inspect
their work and take sitting. One had a
lot of pictures of little naked babies which
were the prettiest, bright-eyed tots l have
ever seem with little shaved heads and
tufts of hair just back of the ears, they
look quite like the Japanese dolls we have
at home. l should like to make a collec-
ton of Japanese babies, but drown the
boys at fourteen and send the girls to
convent to keep them away from the dress
maker. Here are some students on their
way home; they wear a uniform cap,
cross between a Glengarry and an Oxford,
a most abomipable outrage, TO wear which
is surely a capital offense. In one inclos-
ure are kept some long tailed cocks, the
lOISeSl lcdlHtIS IWtlfc lOcl
NOVEL BooK-READING DEVICE.
| forgot to mention the odd device for
getting through" the religious books of
Buddhism, which, as they number nearly
seven thousand, would require more than
a lifetime. To make this possible certain
Chinese priest thirteen hundred years ago
invented revolving bookcase. In this
all the books are placed, and by push the
whole thing is turned around on pivot.
If it turns three times it is equivalent to
one reading of the scripture. ! admire the
invention very much, and think revolving
library would be a good substitute for a
circulating one, where the books are chosen
as in some towns know of.
The pagoda is five stories high, and from
it fine view is obtainable, but as it is now
under repair, am obliged to content N.Y.
self with a memory of last year.
The neatest place TO rest after a long
walk, full of such wonders and annoyances,
is in a genuine Japanese tea house, where
no tables, chairs nor foreign gewgaws are
visible, but where seated, upon the soft,
matted floor with shoes off, you are served
by the cunningest little misses in bright
colored robes with warm sake, or with
Fredericksburg beer direct from California.
They are very Jealous to serve you, and
hop about with the appearance or ROBINS,
twittering together and laughing at your
ungainly attempts with the chopsticks. A
little shy of foreigners at first, they soon
become less timId when they see that you
are not given to the usual roughness of the
visiting barbarian, and are soon busy
teaching you the names of the various
dishes they bring to you. They are the
sweetest little creatures imaginable now,
but what picture when they have pro-
crossed to the stage of slatternly barmaids,
with banged hair and rundown heels.
Sake is the national beverage and is
brewing of rice; it is always taken warm
in cups as delicate as rose leaf, and has
the taste of sherry wine. do not think it
is so strong as is generally supposed, es-
pecially the best kinds Eels broiled in
long strips, with bits of picked bamboo
sprouts, followed by a preserve of sweet
lotus roots and mild cigarette, are things
which dispose one to be in good humor
with the world, and l left the little tea
house, with its pretty occupants standing
at the folding or sliding screen Saying with
the funniest baby accent. Come again
Tomorrow, in a frame of mind almost
kind enough to have forgiven Haruko, had
she asked me then.
CHAs. A. GUNNIsoN